Triaxial electrical cable connector

Abstract

A triaxial electrical connecter for terminating a triaxial electrical cable. The connector (10) is manufactured to comprise five major components including a center contact (21), intermediate and outer shell subassemblies (22,23), an intermediate ferrule (24) and a bushing (26), which can be easily assembled and attached to the end of a triaxial cable (12). The center contact (21) and the intermediate and outer shell subassemblies (22,23) include captivation structure for automatically aligning the components with respect to one another during the assembly process. The intermediate and outer shell subassemblies (22,23) include intermediate and outer contacts (41,71) and intermediate and outer insulating members (42,72) which are adapted to be press-fit into their respective contacts (41,71) for easy preassembly of the subassemblies (22,23) without specialized tools.

We claim: 
     
       1. An electrical connector for terminating an electrical cable having a center conductor and a plurality of outer conductors comprising: a center contact for electrical coupling to said center conductor of said cable;   an intermediate shell subassembly in the form of a first preassembled unit, said intermediate shell subassembly including an intermediate contact for electrical coupling to a first outer conductor of said cable, and an intermediate insulating member for electrically insulating said center contact from said intermediate contact, said intermediate insulating member being press-fitted within said intermediate contact so as to form said first preassembled unit;   an outer shell subassembly in the form of a second preassembled unit, said outer shell subassembly including an outer contact for electrical coupling to a second outer conductor of said cable, and an outer insulating member for electrically insulating said intermediate contact from said outer contact, said outer insulating member being press-fitted within said outer contact so as to form said second preassembled unit;   said intermediate contact and said intermediate insulating member comprising generally tubular-shaped members having axial passageways extending therethrough, said intermediate insulating member being positioned within said axial passageway of said intermediate contact, said intermediate insulating member having a first portion having an outside diameter which is less than the diameter of the axial passageway of said intermediate contact, and a second portion comprising an outwardly stepped portion having an inside diameter slightly greater than the inside diameter of said first portion, and having an outside diameter which is slightly greater than the diameter of said axial passageway in said intermediate contact, wherein only said second portion of said intermediate insulating member is press-fitted within said intermediate contact;   said outer contact and said outer insulating member also comprising generally tubular-shaped members having axial passageways extending therethrough;   said outer insulating member being positioned within said axial passageway of said outer contact;   said outer insulating member comprising a first front insulating section adapted to be easily received within said axial passageway o said outer contact, and a second rear insulating section adapted to be received within said axial passageway of said outer contact in press-fit relationship therewith;   first captivation means on said center contact and on said intermediate shell subassembly for securing said intermediate shell subassembly as a unit together with said center contact;   said first captivation means fixing the position of said center contact within said intermediate shell subassembly;   second captivation means on said intermediate shell subassembly and on said outer shell subassembly for securing said intermediate shell subassembly as a unit together with said outer shell subassembly as a unit;   said second captivation means fixing into position said intermediate shell subassembly within said outer shell subassembly;   an intermediate ferrule disposed between said first outer conductor and said outer shell subassembly for securing said first outer conductor to said intermediate shell subassembly;   a bushing for securing said second outer conductor to said outer shell subassembly;   said second portion of said intermediate insulating member comprises a minor portion of said intermediate insulating member;   and said minor portion comprises an outwardly stepped portion also having an inside diameter which is slightly greater than the inside diameter of a major portion.   
     
     
       2. The connector of claim 1 wherein said second captivation means comprises first and second flanges spaced apart from each other on said intermediate contact, and a projection extending from said outer insulating member into the space between said first and second flanges of said intermediate contact, said first flange cooperating with said projection to permit mounting of said intermediate shell subassembly in said outer shell subassembly and to prevent movement in one direction, said second flange cooperating with said projection to prevent movement in an opposite direction. 
     
     
       3. The connector of claim 1 wherein said rear insulating section comprises a major portion having an outside diameter which is slightly less than the diameter of said axial passageway of said outer contact and a minor portion having an outside diameter which is slightly greater than the diameter of said axial passageway of said outer contact whereby only said minor portion of said rear insulating section is press-fit within said outer contact. 
     
     
       4. The connector of claim 1 wherein said connector comprises a triaxial connector for terminating a triaxial cable. 
     
     
       5. The connector of claim 1 wherein said first captivation means comprises first and second flanges spaced apart form each other on said center contact, and a projection extending from said intermediate insulating member into the space between said first and second flanges, said first flange cooperating with said projection to permit mounting of said center contact in said intermediate shell subassembly and to prevent movement in one direction, said second flange cooperating with said projection to prevent movement in an opposite direction. 
     
     
       6. The connector of claim 5 wherein said first flange is made from a resilient material and comprises snap-lock means. 
     
     
       7. The connector of claim 1 wherein said minor portion is located adjacent the rear end of said intermediate insulating member. 
     
     
       8. The connector of claim 7 wherein said first captivation means comprises snap-lock means on said center contact and a cooperating projection on said intermediate insulating member for automatically axially aligning said center contact within said intermediate shell subassembly. 
     
     
       9. The connector of claim 1 wherein said minor portion of said outer insulating member is located adjacent the rear end of said rear section of said outer insulating member. 
     
     
       10. The connector of claim 1 wherein said second captivation means comprises snap-lock means on said first and second outer insulating sections, and a cooperating projection on said intermediate contact for automatically axially positioning said intermediate shell subassembly within said outer shell subassembly. 
     
     
       11. The connector of claim 1 wherein said outer shell subassembly further includes coupling means for coupling said connector to a complimentary connector. 
     
     
       12. The connector of claim 11 wherein said coupling means comprises bayonet-type coupling means. 
     
     
       13. The connector of claim 1 wherein said first captivation means comprises first and second flanges spaced apart form each other on said center contact, and a projection extending from said intermediate insulating member into the space between said first and second flanges, said first flange of said center contact cooperating with said projection of said intermediate insulating member to permit mounting of said center contact in said intermediate shell subassembly and to prevent movement in one direction, said second flange of said center contact cooperating with said projection of said intermediate insulating member to prevent movement in an opposite direction. 
     
     
       14. The connector of claim 13 wherein said first flange is made from a resilient material and comprises snap-lock means. 
     
     
       15. The connector of claim 13 wherein said second captivation means comprises first and second flanges spaced apart from each other on said intermediate contact, and a projection extending from said outer insulating member into the space between said first and second flanges of said intermediate contact, said first flange of said intermediate contact cooperating with said projection of said outer insulating member to permit mounting in said outer shell subassembly and to prevent movement in one direction, said second flange of said intermediate contact cooperating with said projection of said outer insulating member to prevent movement in an opposite direction.